Question:
What is the ruling if someone is unable to recite the word “الضَّالِيْنَ” correctly when he was reciting al-Fatihah in prayer?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
In madhab al-Imam al-Syafie, reciting al-Fatihah in prayer is one of the obligatory conditions of prayer and it is obligatory to be recited in every rakaat whether it is in sunnah or obligatory prayer. If someone leaves the recitation of al-Fatihah in any rakaat, then the prayer is invalid. This is clear through the words of the Prophet PBUH:
لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ
"Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid."
Sahih al-Bukhari (756)
Furthermore, reciting al-Fatihah in prayer is included as pillars of prayer related to words (al-rukn al-qauli), which if left, then the prayer is invalid. Thus, the recitation of al-Fatihah should be uttered clearly and not just recited in one’s heart.
Imam al-Syafi’e once said:
وَلَا يُجْزِئُ الرَّجُل أَنْ يحْرِمَ لِلصَّلَاة بِقَلْبِهِ ، وَلَا يَقْرَأ بِقَلْبِهِ حَتَّى يُحَرِّكَ لِسَانَهُ
“It is invalid for a man (or a woman) to recite the takbiratul ihram to perform prayer in his heart and it is also invalid to recite al-Fatihah in his heart until he uttered it with his tongue.” (See Mukhtasar al-Buwaithi, 244)
In answering the above question, in reciting al-Fatihah, it is obligatory for us to recite al-Fatihah correctly in terms of the makhraj of the letter and the tajwid. However, it is only obligatory for us to recite it the best that we could. As for things that we are incapable to do, then Allah SWT do not burden us with it. This is clear from the statement of Allah SWT:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.
Surah al-Baqarah (286)
Hence, flawed recitation when one is unable to correct it is valid and it is unnecessary to replace or repeat the prayer, for the prayer is valid. However, we are also obligated to learn al-Fatihah recitation and it must be approved by an expert of the field. If afterwards there is a doubt in ourselves questioning whether our recitation is correct or not, then neglect the feeling for it is the distraction of the shaytan.
May Allah SWT expand our hearts and bless us with itqan (accuracy) in reciting His words. Amin.
Wallhua’lam.